Datums on the fly...

[newjack]

Hello everyone. I'm new to Pro-E and wondered if you might be able to give me some insight on the proper use of datum

 

[BigJoe]

Depends on what the datum is going to be used for. If you know
you're not going to need to reference the datum in any subsequent
features, then create it on the fly. If it is going to be
referenced by multiple features, create it as a standalone feature in
the model tree. You can reference a grouped datum during feature
creation, but you have to select it from the model tree. Doesn't
seem like a good idea to me.



I understand your desire to keep the model tree and model display
clean. If you end up with a lot of standalone datums in the
model, you can always add them to a layer and blank that layer.

 

[dr_gallup]

I like to start with the 3 default datums and then add some more datums that bound the model or that will be used for mating in assemblies. After that, mostly what BigJoe said.

One exception is that you can reuse a DOTF with the USE PREVIOUS sketching plane selection. This has been useful when I want to pattern several features. Create a datum on the fly to make the lead feature, then pick USE PREVIOUS for the subsequent features, then pattern the lead feature using the DOTF dim(s) and pattern the sebsequent features BY REFERENCE. Makes for a very clean model.

Of course, DOTF has gone away in WF but may be back in WF3.

 

[TeamMizuno]

newjack (double K?),





Always...and I mean ALWAYS use datums on-the-fly when you can. There
is nothing worse than opening a model with 10,000 datums all over the
place. Now add that model into an assembly with a lot of parts and
what you'll have is a mess. Putting datums on layers is not an answer
as you still have to filter thru all the junk to get to what you need.
Even if each part has only 3 extra visible datums, imagine what it
looks like in a 30 part assembly.

Now imagine someone else trying to backtrack to redefine the
feature...having to track down the datum, what layer it's on, etc.

Sometimes it's unavoidable to have more than the default datums but less is better.





A DOTF will nest the datum(s) with the feature. That way, you know
exactly what datum affects what feature and your model stays clean.





BTW, DOFT has not gone away in WF (nor WF2.0). All you have to
do is hit the "pause" button in the dashboard while in a feature
creation (e.g. protrusion) and insert as many datums as you wish. When
you're done creating the DOTF, press the "play" button and continue
with the feature creation.

 

[burnsp]

I hate tons of datums too. Here'smy DOTF expereincein WF1.0...


If you create the datum while in the feature creation, but before entering sketcher, it creates the datumun-nested and unhidden.


To be nested, you must create the datum while in sketcher, and even then it's only hidden -you can unhide it and it will show up like any other datum when they are turned on.BTW, you don't need to pause, it does it automatically.


Ifthere are other methods, please comment.


Welcome aboard TeamMizuno!